Fastening apparatus



Oct. 12, 1937. D. R. LA PLACE FASTENING APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet l 4 s, m be. INVENTOR M WBT Oct. 12; 1937.

D. R. LA PLACE 2,095,476

FASTENING APPARATUS I v Filed March 6, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENI 'OR 0c}. 12, 1937. D. R. LA PLACE FASTENING APPARATUS 5 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed March 6, 1935 25 cessively from the fracture which is adapted to be completed as the Patented Oct. 12, 19 37 rarest orrics FASTENING APPARATUS Desmond B. La Place, Beaver Falls, lPa., assignor to The Burgess Company, Incorporated, Beaver Falls, Fa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 6, 1935,, semi No. 9,567

15 Claims.

-My invention relates to a fastening apparatus of the type in which the fasteners are fed from a magazine successively as used, and to a novel method of manipulating the fasteners in prepara tion for use.

I am aware that magazine fasteners have been known heretofore, including a magazine for a plurality of fasteners in the form of staples connected together forming a unitary strip, but such fastenerswhile portable, are more or-less restricted in their application. In accordance with my invention, I provide a device which is generally hammer-like in form, having a head provided'with a magazine for strips of staples as 5 aforesaid, and means for feeding the strip by placing the staples thereof successively in positionfor use: a

In the strip staple fasteners known heretofore, V

the-staples are detached successively from the strip by the shearing action of a driving plunger. I- have invented a novel method of manipulating the staples of a strip prior to driving, which does riot depend on any shearing action. In accordance with the invention, I bend the staples suc strip to produce an incipient staple is driven.

For aco'mpleteunderstanding of the invention, 7

, reference is made to the accompanying drawings 9 illustrating a present preferred embodiment with certain-modifications, although. it will be understood that the invention may be incorporated in forms otherthan those shown, and practiced otherwise than specifically as described herein, within the scope of my broader claims. In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of one form of fastening "apparatus in accordance with my inventionshowing a staple in position for driving; Figure 2 is a" similar View showing the manner of bending the staple" into position for driving;

' "Figure '3 is a partial longitudinal section along the plane containing the axes of the head and handle of the hammer showing the manner of introducing the strip of staples tothe magazine; Figured is a sectional view along. the line IV-QlVdfFigurel; 1 Figure 5 is a, view similar to Figure 3, to somewhat enlarged scale, showing thefirst step of the operation of feeding and bending the staple from'a strip, in themagazine;

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the staple after it has been bent into'position for driving;

; Figure 715a similar view of'th'e final stage after the feeder has been withdrawn, showing the means for holding the strip against retraction;

Figure 8 is a sectional viewt'hrough the head and handle of a modified form of the apparatus;

Figure 9 is a sectional view along the line IX-IX of Figure 8; the line VIII-VIII of Figure 9 indicates the plane on which the section through the hammer head shown in Figure 8 is taken; a

Figure 10 is a partial sectional view along the line X-X of Figure 9, the hammer head appearing in elevation;

Figure 11 is a similar view along the line XI-XI of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a bottom view of a guide bar having holding detents thereon for securing the staple strip against retraction;

Figure 13 is a partial view similar to Figure 8 showing'the first step in the operation of bending a staple into position for driving; 1

Figure 14 is a similar view showing a stage of the operation; 1 a Figure 15 is a similar view showing the staple after it has been finally positioned foridriving;

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing a preferred form of the invention;

Figure 1'? is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the head of the device of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a plan view of a handle socket on which the head is pivotally mounted;

Figure 19 is a sectional view along the line XIX-XIX of Figure 18; a

Figure 20 is a sectional view along the line XX-XX of Figure 18; V

Figure 21 is an elevation of a cutter bar forming part of the device of Figure 16;

' Figure 22 is a side View thereof; and

Figure 23 is an elevation of the feeder of the device of Figure 16.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and, for the present, to Figures 1 through '7, the invention further comprises a hammer head l pivotallymounted on a handle socket H by means of a pin I2. The

of the head extending over the ends of the socket are beveled as at 15 whereby the head-is rockable on the pin E2 to either of two extreme positions (see Figures 1 and 2).

The head has an outer longitudinal slot l1. A,

It is mounted in the slot 11 but guide block spaced from the'bottom thereof, adjacent oneend of the head, forming a chamber or magazine I9 for the reception of a strip of staples indicated the slot I? between the plate 2| at 20. The other end of the slot I? is closed by a head plate 2!. The distance between the plate 2i and the end of the block I8 is sufiicient to receive a strip of staples which may be bent slightly if necessary for insertion therein.

A holding detent 22 in the form of a leaf spring is attached at one end to the block l8 and has its free end suitably shaped to engage the strip 23 as it is advanced by means to be described shortly, and hold it against retraction. A heel 23 is formed on the block I8 whereby the head may be tilted, as shown in Figure 2, by pressing the heel against any rigid surface.

The head iii has an inner longitudinal slot 24 into which the projecting end of the socket H extends. A feeder bar 25 is reciprocable in the slot 24 in engagement with the end of the socket I l indicated at 28. One end of the bar 25 is slidable by means of a slot 2'! on a pin 28 extending spring 29 pinned to the bar 25 and anchored to the head i 8 adjacent the plate 2! tends to retract the bar tothe position shown in Figure l.

The bar 25 has a a finger 33 which is adapted to wipe around the arcuate end 34 of the web 35 between the slots I! and 24. In so doing, the finger 33 is effective to advance the strip 253 for a distance equal to the width of one staple, and bend the end staple about the inner edge of the block iii. The manner in which this result is effected will now be explained in detail.

As before stated, the strip 20 is inserted into and the end of the block 58. The strip is then advanced through the magazine chamber l9 until the first staple on the strip overhangs the rounded end portion 34 of the web 35 as shown in Figure 5. This, of course, causes the spring detent 22 to be deflected against the block iii. If the head H] is then tilted as shown in Figure 2 by pressing the heel 23 against a rigid surface, the finger 3B cooperating with the cam surface 32, aided by the action of the end 26 of the socket II on the body portion of the bar 25, will force the bar toward the bottom of the slot 24. The rounding of the web 35, as shown at 34, causes the bar to move slightly in longitudinal direction. This movement is permitted by the slot 27 and the spring 29. The result is that the first staple on the strip is bent around against the end of the block I B and, as an incident of the bending, an incipient fracture between the first staple and the remainder of the strip is formed. The bent staple, however, is not entirely detached from the strip but is held in position for driving.

The pressure on the heel 23 is then released and the spring 29 restores the head to its original position. The finger 33 rides downwardly over the second staple in the strip. The strip itself is held against retraction by the detent 22. The device is then in the condition illustrated in Figure 1, viz, with the first staple in position for driving. When the first staple is driven by a swing of the hammer, the slight remaining connection'between it and the strip is immediately broken. The head it) may then be reversed to strike a blow on the staple with the plate 2! to complete the driving thereof, if desired. The device may then be operated in the manner described to position the second staple for driving, merely by again pushing on the handle I3 while the heel 23 engages a rigid surface.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 8 through 15. In this form of the invention, a head 40 has a longitudinal slot 4| extending from end to end thereof. A guide bar 42 of substantially T-section is secured in the slot 4!. A hollow tubular handle 43 is secured to the head, preferably being slotted to receive the latter.

It will be apparent from Figure 9 that the guide bar 42 is so arranged relative to the slot 4! in the head 40 as to provide a passage of inverted U-shape extending the length of the head. A staple strip 44 can thus be inserted in the righthand end of the head, as Viewed in Figure 8, and advanced toward the other end. The guide bar 42 is provided with holding detents 45 (see Figs. 8 and 12) similar to the detent 22 of the device already described. The detents 45 engage the points of successive staples on the strip and prevent retraction of the strip after a feeding movement thereof by means which will now be described.

The left-hand end of the hammer head 40 is also slotted to receive a bending slide 46. The outer end of the slide 46 is in the form of a hook 4? adapted to engage the first staple of a strip and bend it around the end of the head so that it bridges the slot in which the slide 46 is mounted. Movement of the slide 46 is controlled by notches 46 and 49 and a tooth 59 therebetween formed on one edge thereof, cooperating with a pin 5| extending through the head.

The inner end of the slide 46 extends within the tubular handle 43 and is there pivotally connected to an operating lever 52 pivoted in the handle at 53. The lever has a handle grip 54 extending outwardly of the handle through a slot 55 therein and is normally maintained in illustrated position by a leaf spring 56 carried on a plug 5? which closes the end of the handle 43 spaced from the head 40. A compression spring: 58 abuts against the slide 46 adjacent the inner end thereof and the handle 43.

A feeding slide 59 is disposed in the slot 4| in-. the head 40 for reciprocation therein and is pivoted to the inner end of the slide 46. The free end of the slide 59 is bent inwardly to engage successive staples in the strip and push the latter forward step by step.

The operation of the device shown in Figures 8 through l5 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 13 through 15 illustrated in the various stages of the operation.

The staple strip 44 is first inserted in the slot M in the manner indicated in Figure 9, from the right-hand end thereof as viewed in Figure 8. The strip is advanced to the position shown in Figure 8 and is held there by the detents 45 against retraction. The device is then ready for use.

To position the first staple of the strip for driving, it is only necessary to depress the handle grip 54 by manually squeezing it into the handle 43. The first result of this operation, as shown in Figure 13, is that the hook 37 engages the middle portion of the first staple of the strip, as the slide 45 is retracted due to squeezing of the lever 52. The slide 59 is also slightly retracted, as shown in Figure 13, the strip being held in position by the detents 45.

As the swinging movement of the lever 52 continues, the tooth 50 on the inner edge of the slide this movement is illustrated in (ill tion somewhat similar cated in Figure 15, the

the invention is more closely thereof, and projectionsor ears 46 engages the pin 5|. Since the slide'59, which is pivotally connected to the slide 46, is in engagement with the flange of the guide bar 42, the slide 46 tends to'swing counterclockwise, against the force exerted by the spring 58, so that the tooth 50 will clear thepin 5|. The early stage of Figure 14, The angular movement of the slide 46 tends to pull the first staple of the strip down over the end of the head 46 so that itbridges the end of the slot on which the slide 46 is mounted. The feeding slide 59, of course, is retracted to the same extent as the bending slide 46.

Continued movement of the lever 52 swings the slide 46 so that the tooth 56 clears the pin 5i as V aforesaid. This permits the hook 41 on the end of" theslide to clear the bent-over staple, whereupon the spring 58 forces the slide 46 back toward the staple strip 44; The first staple is then in position for driving,which may be accomplished by a swing of the hammer. It will be noted that in the fully actuated position of the lever 52 indifeeding slide 59 is in line :with one staple and will have to travel almost the full distance between adjacent staples before it will engage the edge of the next staple in advanceto cause forward movement of the strip.

0n release of the handle grip spring 56 will cause reverse movement of thelever 52, whereupon the slide 46 will move to the left and, because of the cam action of the tooth 56 on the pin 5|, will swing away from the head 46.

By the time the end of the feeding slide .59 engages the staple adjacent that" opposite which the end of the slide was disposed in the extreme inward position thereof, the hook 41 of the slide 46 will have moved over the end of the strip as shown in Figure 8. Further resetting movement of thelever'52 causes the staple strip- 44 to be advanced by the feeding slide 59 to the initial position of Figure 8'. The device is then ready for a repetition of the staple 54, therefore, the

operations.

It will be apparent that the device of Figures 8 of Figures 1 through "I, since the staples are bent successively from the strip in which they are supplied, to .cause an incipient fracture therebetween whereby, on driving the staple, it is readily detached from the strip.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in Figures lfithrough 23. This form of similar to that of Figures 1 through '7 than to that of Figures 8 through 15. In this form of the invention, a head 65 has a slot'66 extending longitudinally 61 by which the head is pivotally mounted on a handle socket 68 by. a through pin 69. The ends of the ears 6! arebeveled'at 16 for cooperation with shoulders H on the socket 68'. The head 65 is thus tiltable on the socket to either of two extreme posi- .tions. A set-screw'12 secures the pin 69 in position and a handle 15 is secured in the socket 68 by apin 14.

A guide bar 15 is disposed in the in Figures 21 and 2.2, the guide bar has a T-secto that of the bar 42 of Figures 8 through l5, wherebya staple strip 11 may be guided'through the slot 66. The guide bar-has holding detents 18 similar in function to those shown at 22 and 45.

A feeder bar 19 has one end disposed between the guide bar 15 and the end of the socket 613 and Figure l.

bending and driving slot 66, being secured to the head by rivets I6. As shown best is yieldingly held in that position by a spring 86. The feeder bar has a finger 8| extending at substantially right angles thereto. The finger 8| provided with gudgeons 82 adapted to slide on the flanges 63 of a slo't the socket 68.- Portions of the formed integral with the socket and the remaining portions thereof are formed on an'insert 85 securedin position by a rivet 86. i

The feeder 19 also has a finger 61, the function of which will be obvious from the previous description of Figure l. 1 I

The operation of the preferred form'o'f themvention disclosed in Figures 16 to 23,- inclusive,is quite similar to that of the form disclosedin A clip of staples or the like is first fed to the magazine in the head and pushed, forwardly through the magazine to the point where the first staple will be engaged by the finger 8T upon effecting relative -movement-'be tween the head and the finger. The handle 16 isthen seized by the user and the driving end of the hammer pushed against a fixed surface;

The driving end is suitably shaped at 88-for this purpose. It is also provided with a hardened insert 89 over which the staple strip 11 is adapted 'to slide. When the driving end is pushedagainst into position on the driving end of the hammer. The second staple on the strip by been advanced into the position in which the first that time has staple is shown in Figure 16 and the strip is then held in-that position by the detents 18. bending of the staple in the aforesaiimaniier causes an incipient fracture between the staple and the strip on the ing between adjacent staples seats to facilitate detachment of the staple from the strip when the staple is driven. If the pressure on the point 68 of the hammer head is released after the staple is fed forward in the manner above described, the spring 86 will draw the head and the feed'barf19 back into the positions illustrated in Figure 16. The finger 81 will then be in a position to engage, feed and. bend the second staple in the strip on a successive tilting of the hammer head. Driving of the staple is accomplished by a swing of the hammer and the operations set forth above may then be repeated as often as desired. It will be understood from the above description that at the time that the driving operation is performed, the staple being driven has its prongs orlegs extending longitudinally of the hammer head'and at an angle of approximately 90 from the posi- 84 formed in one sidevof flanges 83 are connecting portion extendmeans including an actuating tations of previous types of automatic feed machines, furthermore, are entirely overcome and the desirable features thereof incorporated in a small hand tool which can be easily carried to any point of use and used in any position. The particular advantage of the invention over previous stapling machines, of course, is that the latter require that the work be placed in the machine. This is impossible in the case, for example, of nailing postersto a wall. Since my invention pro- .vides a stapling machine which can be moved bodily to the work, specifically in the form of a hammer, it will be obvious that an entirely new field for automatic fastening devices is created. The advantage of bending the staple being driven from the strip in the magazine is two-fold. In the first place, it facilitates separation of the driven staple from the strip and in the second, permits the strip to be fed through a magazine extending longitudinally of the head, thus utilizing the conventional hammer design or outline.

Although I have illustrated and described herein but one preferred embodiment of the invention and the method of practicing it, with certain modifications, it will be understood that many changes may be made in the method and apparatus described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Fastening apparatus comprising a handle, a head mounted thereon, a magazine in the head adapted to receive a staple strip, and means including an actuating bar for advancing the staple strip and bending staples successively therefrom to be driven by said head.

2. Apparatus for fastening comprising a handle, a magazine for strip staples having a head adjacent the discharge end thereof, said magazine and head being mounted on said handle and means including an actuating bar for advancing a staple strip through said magazine and bending the staples thereon successively around said head in position to be driven thereby.

3. An automatic feed stapling hammer comprising a handle, a head mounted thereon, a staple strip magazine formed in said head, and bar movably mounted in the head for advancing'the strip in said magazine and bending the staples thereof successively relative to the main body of the strip,

and into position in which they are adapted to be driven by said head.

4. A stapling hammer comprising a handle, a head tiltably mounted on the handle, a strip staple magazine in the head, and means including an actuating bar in the head actuated by tilting thereof on the'handle for advancing the staple strip and bending the staples thereof successively into a position in which they are adapted to be driven by said head.

5. The apparatus defined by claim 4' characterized by means for holding the strip against reverse movement between feeding operations.

6. In a stapling hammer, a handle, a head mounted thereon, a magazine in said head for a staple strip, and means including an actuating bar operable to bend the strip successively between staples to cause a partial fracture between the staple and the rest of the strip.

7. A fastening hammer comprising a handle, a head mounted thereon, means in the head for guiding a connected series of fasteners therethrough, and a finger mounted in the head adapted to successively engage and bend the fasteners from the series into driving position out of line with the series, the finger and head being movable relative to each other to bring the finger into operative engagement with the fingers.

3. A fastening hammer comprising a handle, a head pivotally mounted thereon, means in the head for guiding a connected series of fasteners therethrough, and a finger mounted in the head and operable by pivotal movement of the head on the handle for advancing and bending said fasteners successively to driving position.

9. A stapling hammer comprising a handle, a head mounted thereon, a magazine in said head for strip staples, means in the magazine for guiding a staple strip therethrough, and a finger reciprocably and pivotally mounted in the head and so arranged relative to said head and said magazine that relative pivotal movement between the head and said finger causes said finger to engage and successively advance the strip through the magazine and bend the staples contained therein to driving position at a substantial angle to the strip.

10. The apparatus defined by claim 9 characterized by said head being pivotally mounted on the handle.

11. A stapling hammer comprising a head, a magazine formed therein for strip fasteners, means in the magazine for guiding a strip therethrough, a handle on which said head is pivoted, and a feeder bar slida-ble in said head and adapted to be actuated by pivotal movement between the head and handle to effect feeding and bending of the fastener strip.

12. A stapling device comprising a head, a magazine therein for strip staples, means for holding the strip against reverse movement, a feeder bar slidable and rockable in said head for feeding the strip and bending staples successively therefrom about one end of the head, and manually operable means for actuating said bar.

13. A stapling device comprising a handle, a head rigidly mounted on said handle, a magazine in said head for strip staples, means for holding the strip against reverse movement, a feeder bar slidab-le and rockable in said head for feeding the strip and bending staples successively therefrom about one end of the head, and manually operable means including a member movably mounted in said handle for actuating said bar.

14. A stapling device comprising a handle, a head mounted thereon, a magazine in said head for a staple strip, and means including an actuating bar movably mounted in the head and arranged to engage successively and individually the staples and bend them from the strip into a position at an angle to the strip for driving, said bending action being caused by relative movement between the actuating bar and the head.

15. Fastening apparatus comprising a head, a magazine in the head adapted to receive a staple strip, and means including an actuating bar for advancing the staple strip in step by step fashion and for bending staples successively therefrom into position in which they are adapted to be driven by said hea 

